online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

1864 DATED SPRINGFIELD M1863 TYPE-2 RIFLE MUSKET: AKA MODEL 1864: CLEAR MARKINGS, CARTOUCHES

Zoom In Zoom Out Reset

This is a very good example of the Springfield Model 1864 Rifle Musket, still known among collectors also as the Model 1863 Type-2 since the changes it incorporates were authorized in November 1863, even though production did not start until the second quarter of 1864. The rifle is complete, all original, with good surface and good markings to the metal, nice color to the wood and visible inspection cartouches on the side flat with a few handling marks, a set of owner’s initials, and some gray and brown stains to the metal. This is the last regulation US muzzle-loading arm and saw widespread use in the climactic final battles of the war in 1864 and 1865.

The most noticeable change in this pattern was the reintroduction of band springs, which had been eliminated in the Model 1863 (or “Model 63 Type-1.”) It retained the most noticeable improvement of that model, however: the shorter bolster providing a straight vent to the barrel that provided quicker and surer ignition of the charge. This resulted in a thinner lock plate, the use of a flat bolster without clean-out screw and stamped with an eagle, a recurved and beveled hammer, etc.

From March through June 1864 Springfield turned out 58,999 of these rifles; from July through September another 44,040; and from October through December yet another 54,424; with another 96,877 in the first six months of 1865. Despite these impressive numbers, like most Civil War rifles and muskets, these are not easy to find. The army made it easy for discharged veterans to purchase their arms, many or most of which would be used up around the farm, and between 1867 and 1868 the government disassembled 152,573 Model 1864 rifle muskets so that their parts could be used in the manufacture of new breechloading arms.

All bands, springs, rod, sights, swivels, etc., are in place. The rear sight has the correct single L-shaped-leaf used on the Model 1864. The ramrod is the 1863 (or 1863 Type-1 pattern) with simple swelled tip rather than knurled edges. The wood has a tight fit to the metal and good edges, good rammer channel showing just a few nicks indicating the rammer was drawn and returned and the gun saw use. The wood is dark brown with some scattered handling marks, and a set of owner’s initials – “JB” – carved in block letters on the right butt flat near the buttplate. The cartouches are visible on the sideflat. The metal is generally smooth, with the barrel showing a smooth brown with steel gray showing a bit along the side and at some rubs. There is some shallow pitting near the breech, likely from firing percussion caps, with the breechplug tang show brighter with some thin brown splotches. The lockplate is a gray with some scattered browns and darker grays with sharp, legible markings. The rear sight shows some original blue. The markings in the metal are correct throughout: US on the buttplate tang; 1864 date at rear of the lock plate and a crisp US/SPRINGFIELD stamp forward of the hammer with an eagle to its left and sharp smaller eagle on the side of the bolster just above. The V/P/[eaglehead] barrel proofs at left breech are very good. The 1864 barrel date has some scratches and light pitting but is legible and matches the lockplate.  Mechanics function well; bore is clean with good rifling.

This is a key piece in any display chronicling the improvements in small arms during the war or one focusing on the decisive battles fought in its final year, and if you had an ancestor serving in the Union infantry at that point in the war, there is a good chance he was carrying one of these.  [sr][ph:L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!